Unilever Lecture Series

2017 :“Learning a hard lesson: the Dutch in the Medway 1667” – by Prof. Andrew Lambert, Professor of Naval History in the Department of War Studies at King’s College, London; on Tuesday 21 March 2017.

2016 :“What is a Chinese Identity?” – by Prof. Barend J ter Haar, Run Run Shaw Professor of Chinese and Director of the Institute for Chinese Studies at Oxford University; on Wednesday 16 March at 6 for 6.30pm; reception, introduction, buffet supper).

2015: “The end of the Lutine, its lost bullion, its saved bell and Lloyd’s” – by Martin Hendriksma, on Thursday 5 February 2015 at 6 for 6.30pm in Central London

2014 : “The Kingdom of the Netherlands: The Early Years” – by Professor Dr Ido de Haan.

2013: “For the Love of the Binding”– a Tale of three Book Collectors, by Professor Mirjam Foot.

2012 : “Inspiring the Youth of the World”, by Sir Keith Mills, founder of AirMiles and Nectar, and Deputy Chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games. The event, open to Members and their Guests, was hosted (by Unilever) on the top floor of 100 Victoria Embankment on a Wednesday evening in the middle of February.

2011 : “Holland’s Shallowness – its impact on the world”, by Rob van Mesdag, a well-known writer, speaker and retired journalist, on the wide use of ‘boats without a keel’ in the shallow waters of the Low Countries.

2009: “Links across the Sea – the other Holland”, by Lord Taylor of Holbeach, Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Director of Taylor Bulbs in Lincolnshire and a member of the Society.

2008: “The Miracle of Venice”, by John Julius Viscount Norwich. The Lecture and the dinner – hosted by Unilever – took place on the top floor of 100 Victoria Embankment – formerly ‘Unilever House’.

2007: no lecture held as the venue was not available at the time.

2006: “A European Perspective” by Nick Clegg MP, spokesman on European Affairs for the Liberal Democrats, who served in the European Parliament and at the time was the representative for Sheffield-Hallam.

2005: “The Flemish Bond – the Dutch in Norfolk“, by Christopher Hanson-Smith, author of the eponymous book. At the former City of London School.

2004: “Sustainable Development, Sustainable Business“, by our member Karen de Segundo, a director of Royal Dutch-Shell.

2003: “Eden Project”, by Tim Smit CBE, at “Shakespeare’s Globe”.

2002: “Hell and High Water”, on the BT Global Challenge Yacht Race, by Robert Brooke.

2001: “Queen Wilhelmina, her time of exile in England, and the British“,
by the historian and ‘official’ biographer, Professor Cees Fasseur.

2000: Books and Other Ingenious Devices, by David McKitterick.

1999: Reflections on Russian-Dutch Connections, by Zoia Belyakova.

1998: Dutch Realism, by Baron van Dedem.

1997: Chinese Ceramics of the British Museum, by Jessica Harrison-Hall.